Blixt-Smith team leads golf event

The team of Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith posted a 10under-par 62 in the four-ball format to take the lead at the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic in Avondale, La.

Blixt and Smith have a twoday total of 15-under 129 to lead by one over Patrick Reed and Patrick Cantlay. The K.J ChoiCharlie Wi and Troy MerrittRobert Streb pairings are tied for third at 13-under.

he four-ball format has each member of a two-man team playing his own ball throughout a round, with only the best score on each hole recorded. The same format will be used Sunday. The first and third rounds have an alternate-shot format.

Haru Nomura shot a 6-under 65 for a two-round total of 133 and a one-shot lead in the North Texas LPGA Shootout in Irving.

Ariya Jutanugarn is second following a 67 with Suzann Pettersen another shot behind.

Pablo Larrazabal fired a 6-under 66 to take a threestroke lead at 14-under halfway through the China Open in Beijing. Tennis: Maria Sharapova moved into the Porsche Grand Prix semifinals by defeating Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 6-4. In her third match following a 15month doping ban, Sharapova converted five of her six break points.

The five-time Grand Slam champion will next face Kristina Mladenovic, who overcame Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-2.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal eased past Hyeon Chung 7-6 (1), 6-2 and Andy Murray beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4) to reach the Barcelona Open semifinals.

Top-seeded Stanford and No. 2 Cal advanced to Saturday’s women’s final at the Pac-12 Championships in Ojai (Ventura County). Stanford defeated Oregon 4-0, and Cal eliminated USC 4-3. Motor sports: Matt Kenseth won the pole position for Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.